UAE’s 18-Year-Old Cyclist Wins in First L’Étape Dubai
UAE Resident Alrefai Wins First-Ever L’Étape Dubai Title in Historic Debut Event

Ibrahiem Alrefai Claims Victory in Inaugural L’Étape Dubai Cycling Race
L’Étape Dubai, the prestigious cycling event organized by the Tour de France, made its highly anticipated debut in the UAE this weekend. The event attracted over 1,000 cycling enthusiasts, spanning a range of skill levels from casual riders and amateurs to elite athletes. This inaugural edition set a historic milestone, with the largest number of participants ever recorded for an amateur cycling competition in the UAE.
On Sunday, the main race began in the Dubai Design District (D3) and followed the Dubai-Al Ain Road (E66), a difficult 101-kilometer course. Ibrahiem Alrefai, a Syrian national and resident of the United Arab Emirates, made a strong push along Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street (D54) to win first place at Expo Village Park, marking the race’s turning point.
Alrefai won the first-ever L’Étape Dubai title after finishing the event in an amazing 02:17:24. Ivan Kormshchikov came in second, not far behind him, while Danil Konotop finished third on the podium. This exciting race was a first for the amateur cycling scene in the United Arab Emirates, and it is now expected to become a major event for cyclists in the area.